Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Kerberos, a la Shakespeare

I just read an excellent kerberos primer in the form of a play, full with Dramatis Personae and Scenes. Athena and Euripides exchange thoughts on open network environments, and validating identities. Identity was relevant back then just as it is today...here's an small excerpt:

Euripides: Your workstation system sounds really good Tina. When I get mine, you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to find out your username, and get my workstation to think that I am you. Then I'm going to contact the mail server and pick up your mail. I'm going to contact your file server and remove your files, and--


Athena: Can you do that?


Euripides: Sure! How are these network servers going to know that I'm not you?


Athena: Gee, I don't know. I guess I need to do some thinking.


Euripides: Sounds like it. Let me know when you figure it out.



Monday, April 09, 2007

More IdM Services Company Acquisitions

Two more, to be exact...the first is our very own Identropy, which is in agreement with Earthling Security to acquire it. Although Earthling is more of a general security company, IdM was the major part of the reasoning for the acquisition.
Secondly, a press release today stated that ProtechT was acquired by Integralis. Integralis CEO stated:
With this acquisition, Integralis’ portfolio will be expanded by ProtechT’s
extensive knowledge in identity management and its expertise in multi-modal
biometric and smart cards.

According to ProtechT's website, it also seems like a general security company. In fact, it is self-described as an "Information Technnology Security" company. Nonetheless, the acquiring company's reasoning for the acquisition was identity, according to the quote above. These two acquisitions add to the Sun's Neogent acquisition from last year, as well as Novacoast's eNvision acquisition, and Secured Services, Inc. acquisition of Cybrix Corporation's Identity Management PS team. Perhaps this is an indication of further maturation in the Identity Management M&A game?